Thanks for the excellent video and narrative. In the mid 1950’s someone had hung a heavy rope (with a large knot at the bottom of it), from the underside of The Bridge almost down to the water. My sister Rosalia’s “Crowd” and I (the little-sister, tag-along) used to swim from The End or The Point, across to The Bridge (our name for it.) One of the guys would pull the rope to the platform and we would take turns swinging out and dropping into the water — exhilarating! Then there was Billie who jumped off The Bridge into the water wearing his ‘jumping sneakers’ ’cause the impact hurt his feet. Such good memories growing up in Gerritsen Beach. Thanks again for the last look at The Bridge.

YES I HAVE BEEN UNDER THAT BRIDGE…AND IT WAS IN THE 50’S…AND I REMEMBER IT WITH THE FONDEST OF MEMORIES. OUR “GANG” WAS A GROUP OF TEEN-AGERS JUST LIKE THOSE IN “GREASE”. MY VERY FIRST, HANDSOME AUBURN-HAIRED BOYFRIEND, JOE COYNE, HAD A BOAT, AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD TAKE THE BOAT THERE AND HANG OUT BECAUSE IT WAS “COOL” AND “AWESOME” AND THERE WAS A ROPE THAT WE COULD SWING ON AND DROP INTO THE WATER. SOME OF THE GUYS WOULD JUMP OR SWAN DIVE OFF THE TOP. OH, DID YOU BRING BACK SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL MEMORIES FOR ME AND I THANK YOU WITH ALL OF MY 74-YEAR OLD HEART. WE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA IN 1957 BUT I STILL HAVE A WARM, LOVING FEELING FOR GERRITSEN BEACH AND I THANK YOU WITH ALL MY 74-YEAR OLD HEART. AND IF ANYBODY WHO KNEW ME THEN READS THIS, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU CRAZY DRIVER BROOKLYN GUY FOR THIS AWESOME VIDEO.

Yes cool place .my crew in the 80s also had fun times there, we also enjoyed the rope swing . We mp (teens) would enter at av v & e38st ride our bmx bikes on a trail down the side of the golf course. Liked the video and about the new bridge hope they don’t put up a toll

Thank you for making the cool video documentary of the old GB bridge.
I think the last time I’ve been under it was back in the ’60’s. Besides traveling under it by boat many times, I’ve been under the bridge where all the graffiti now adorns it.
I agree, the bridge definitely has/had character.
Now being a Florida transplant, I’ll always have fond memories of the bridge and the area in general.
Cheers!

Nice video It is a shame you did not go through the steel doors…If you did, you make a right turn..Then you come to an elevated platform about 4ft high..Climb onto the platform and you will find 2 rooms…The left room contains the electrial generator for the power….Back in the 60’s we would use the right side room as a hang out..We had couches and chairs with tables…We tapped into the electric and had radio for music..We even had a pot belly stove vented out for the winter…Also on the wall is mounted a large switch to control the lights on the Bridge and other lights before and after What fun that was…Had many parties inside that Bridge…They tried many times to lock us out..We just kept cutting the locks off until they finally gave up..We would go by boat and carry it up and “store” it under the entrance Until we were ready to leave..Great memories of the old Bridge…

I have great memories of the Bridge, Going under it many times on my Dads Charter Boat. Speeding under it and around Mow-Mow in my G-3 Glasspar Ski Boat(one of the first fiberglass ski boats)One thing I remember is blowing by the two wood Aristo Crafts and the look of their faces. The Bridge represents my growing up in the Beach. Now in Florida I visit this site quite a bit to keep up with goings on in the Beach. Looks like nothing lasts forever.

To Answer your question the concrete the contractor is mixed specifically to resist salt water. The concrete is mixed with chemicals that prevent it from being porous. Asphalt believe it or not does not do well on bridges because the bridge has expansion joints and expands and contracts. Once water gets under Asphalt at a expansion joint it usually pops out(and creates a pothole). Tully is applying an epoxy based waterproofing agent to keep water from seeping under the deck. Hopefully these measures will keep the bridges in shape for the next 100 years!

that was great, I remeber living in Sheepshead bay and we ( myself, ronnie , richie, billy and mike).used to go there and walk up plum beach to get there, we used to call the underside of it ( the elephant Cagges )
we walk along the outside edge on the water side and a few times even camped out under it , and had a great time inside of it, (Yes inside of them) LOL.. there was a big opening as if a door was there and we used to go inside them and camp out there was even a small hatch way that we used to clim down on the brige ot get to the center surrports also. I remember how dark it was and the sand inside was cool and so soft on our feet, great place to hang on a hot summers day. We used to fish there too and also do some rattit hunting with bows and arrows.we also use to swim under it. brings back wonderful memeoires of my teenage years,
I was there from 1965-1973. I am 57 now.
Thank you for the great video i remember it when it wasnt all tagged up.